PARISH VOICES

Hope is an important thing. How is yours holding up? When the world around us is full of fear and stress, it can seem hard to have hope.

During Bible Study on Wednesday, we reflected on the word discipline and what it means. For many in this world, discipline carries...

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony...."

As we draw near to the beginning of Lent, we're called to examine ourselves more deeply, to clear away what dims the light of Christ within us. This holy season invites us to look honestly at our lives, not with harsh judgment, but with loving and careful attention. We are called to prepare our hearts as we would prepare a room for an honored guest. In this spirit of preparation, St. Basil the Great offers timeless wisdom: Be attentive to yourself. That is, observe yourself c

I frequently have songs pop into my head. A few days ago this happened and I was remembering a song called Getting Ready for Glory by Carolyn Arends. The song opens reflecting on an aging woman and how she lives her life preparing for eternal life with God. The end of the song shifts to invite all of us to remember that we are called to live our lives getting ready for glory. My first thought when I remembered this song a few days ago was, “What if, instead of the woman in

When I think of forgiveness, I think about Fr. Tom introducing us to Henri Nouwen, a renowned spiritual writer who often spoke about forgiveness as a process akin to unveiling a canvas. Forgiveness can be incredibly challenging but also incredibly transformative. It requires a deep understanding and compassion that transcends our human nature. Henri Nouwen described people as canvases, covered over time by layers of hurt, pain, and mistakes. These layers obscure the image of

But let all who hope in You be glad; They will greatly rejoice forever, For You will dwell in them; And all who love Your name will boast in You. —Psalm 5:12 ​Psalm 5 is included in my daily prayers. I have read it weekly for many years now. Recently, verse 12 jumped out at me. It does seem that bible verses that I have read many, many times before can suddenly become like new words. The Orthodox Study Bible commentary states that the 5th Psalm was written by David and emphas

I had a brilliant, talented, creative friend, Jim, who got in an argument with his UW professor 40 years ago. He became enraged at the professor, yelled profanities at him, and stormed out of class. He was so angry that he never came back. He failed that class and was only one class short of his degree at UW! Redemption and Second Chances Jim never graduated. He held on to that resentment and bad judgment and never spoke to the professor for forty years. A week before a sudde

There is a common illustration for self care based upon an oxygen mask on an airline flight. The main message is that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. Dr. Albert Rossi uses the illustration at the beginning of his beautiful book Becoming a Healing Presence. He writes: The adult is to put his or her own oxygen mask on first, and only then put a mask on the infant. For me, as an Italian grandfather, those instructions are counterintuitive. I

Well-Baby Check-Ups and Spiritual Health Most parents realize that keeping our babies healthy requires taking them to the pediatrician for their "well baby" check-ups. At each visit the doctor weighs and measures our kids to make sure they are growing at a healthy rate, checking eyesight and hearing, and answering any questions about behavior and health issues. As parents, we can't wait for our children to reach important milestones – the first pounds gained, sitting up strai